Recent Blog Articles

How to choose period products

Vaccines against the flu and COVID-19: What you need to know

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis may lower dementia risk

Scoring highly on Alternative Healthy Eating Index lowers risk for many illnesses

Can self-employment promote better cardiovascular health for women?

Why is it so challenging to find a primary care physician?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A new injection treatment for eczema

3 simple swaps for better heart health

I’m too young to have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, right?

Asking about guns in houses where your child plays

Cancer

Can hormone therapy cause muscle loss?

September 29, 2009

By Marc Garnick, MD, Editor in Chief, HarvardProstateKnowledge.org

I am currently undergoing hormone therapy with leuprolide (Lupron) injections to shrink an enlarged prostate. I believe I’ve noticed some muscle loss. Is this possible?

Marc Garnick, M.D., Editor in Chief of Harvard Medical School’s Annual Report on Prostate Diseases, says:

Muscle loss (and an increase in body fat) is a common side effect of hormone therapy. Hormones tamp down the production of testosterone, a male hormone that plays a role in developing and maintaining muscle mass. (Hormone therapy can also lead to bone loss, so be sure your doctor is on the lookout for osteoporosis.) I recommend regular exercise to my patients, as it may help stave off muscle and bone loss and limit changes in body composition. One thing to look forward to: these side effects will gradually diminish when you stop hormone therapy.

SOURCE: Amory JK, Wang C, Swerdloff RS, et al. The effect of 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibition with Dutasteride and Finasteride on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone in Healthy Men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2007;92:1659–65. PMID: 17299062.

Originally published April 2009; last reviewed March 22, 2011.

About the Author

Marc Garnick, MD, Editor in Chief, HarvardProstateKnowledge.org

Marc B. Garnick, M.D., is an internationally renowned expert in medical oncology and urologic cancer. A clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, he also maintains an active clinical practice at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical … See Full Bio

View all posts by Marc Garnick, MD

Share This Page

Print This Page

Disclaimer:

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.